Three Peaks Challenge – what happens if you have to drop out and there is no back up.

I originally published this blog last September but now that the 2016 Three Peaks season is well on its way I thought it was worth republishing and updating any links

If you are planning to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks then there are lots of things you need to consider. The “What happens if I cannot complete the walk” is well worth thinking about too, even if you are going on an organised event.

Whenever you go for a walk whether short or long you should consider the “what ifs” and have an escape route or plan. On the best Three Peaks walks you will have someone in a vehicle acting as support. They can carry spare water and snacks as well as pick up anyone who has maybe injured themselves or who knows they cannot complete the walk. There are two or three places where the support vehicle can meet you to check everyone is ok. It can be a thankless and boring job but the walkers will get a real boost seeing them between the peaks and knowing they have backup if needed.

Some organised walks tell you to carry a mobile phone and have some money on you for a taxi or the train in case you are not keeping up or want to drop out. You maybe doing the walk with a few friends and not have anyone to provide a back up for you. A point to remember is that mobiles do not work at the road heads of Birkwith, Ribblehead and Chapel-le-Dale and the only public phone box is at the Station Inn at Ribblehead. There are taxis around here but they can be very busy, at peak times particularly, so you will need some money for a pint or two while you wait for one. The Hill Inn between Whernside and Ingleborough is available for drinks while you wait too. Make sure you have the taxi numbers with you so you can call where you have a signal though. There are some trains at Ribblehead on the famous Settle Carlisle Railway so you can check the timetable. There are also some buses but they are not that regular especially out of season but the Dales Bus has information. Dales Bus. Make sure you have this information with you before you set off.

We are seeing more and more people walking along the roads, especially coming back down to Horton-in-Ribblesdale from Ribblehead. Perhaps they do not have any money or would rather not pay. Walking on the road is very hard on your feet and legs and is just under 5 1/2 miles long. It has no verge to walk on most of the way, is quite narrow and winding and has numerous blind bends and summits. It is well used by tourist and local cars and cycles but it is also well know for being a popular motorbike route and has more than its fair share of riders who think they will live forever despite riding too fast and overtaking when they cannot see. Unfortunately we have also had more than our share of serious injuries and deaths too which is very sad. All in all this road is potentially very dangerous for walkers and is not the best route back to Horton-in-Ribblesdale either.

The Alternative – The easiest on your tired legs and feet is to follow the Three Peaks walk to High Birkwith and then take the Ribble Way to Sell Gill to join the Pennine Way down to Horton. At just under 6 1/4 miles it is a bit longer but far more pleasant and much, much safer. Another idea is to follow the much less busy road down to the village from High Birkwith and this route is just over 6 miles but again much safer.

If you plan for the possibility of having to drop out of the walk and the unlikely happens then it does not mean that the day is totally spoilt by you having to work out what to do in a place with no signal and when you have no money or planned options.

Enjoy your walking. If you need a to develop your navigation skills, a guide or safety cover for any walk, including the Three Peaks, please get in touch Contact Us

2 thoughts on “Three Peaks Challenge – what happens if you have to drop out and there is no back up.”

If you’re on an organised event then hopefully you can contact a marshal. This will also inform the organisers that you’ve dropped out so they needn’t expect you at the end and won’t stay up all night searching for you.

Some large events have radio communications with their marshal points including the summits and danger spots. They may expect competitors who do drop out to use the event’s transport back to the start/finish point so that you can be properly confirmed as safe and the search team or late night phone call to your registered home number can be avoided.

You are right that is what should happen but on smaller events there is often no support locally as the guide or guides have often come in from outside the area and people are expected to make their own way back to the start. Sometimes the organisers of inhouse events do not have any experience of the Three Peaks themselves so do not have a backup plan and can underestimate the challenge and what are the essentials needed to undertake it. I have been asked where the water stations are – like they are a permanent feature. So even some organised walks can get it wrong like on Thursday <Rescue Incident 41 The other point is the group might be just some friends doing the challenge that have travelled up together and they will probably not have any support with them. Its just a good idea to have your own back up plan prepared anyway whether doing it in a event or with some family or friends.